Next morning the boys and I started with the cart laden with our
bundles of bamboos to attend to the avenue of fruit trees. The buffalo
we left behind, for his services were not needed, and I wished the
wound in his nostrils to become completely cicatrized before I again
put him to work.
We were not a moment too soon; many of the young trees which before
threatened to fall had now fulfilled their promise, and were lying
prostrate on the ground, others were bent, some few only remained
erect. We raised the trees, and digging deeply at their roots, drove in
stout bamboo props, to which we lashed them firmly with strong broad
fibres.
`Papa,' said Franz, as we were thus engaged, and he handed me the
fibres as I required them, `are these wild or tame trees?'
`Oh, these are wild trees, most ferocious trees,' laughed Jack, `and we
are tying them up lest they should run away, and in a little while we
will untie them and they will trot about after us and give us fruit
wherever we go. Oh, we will tame them; they shall have a ring through
their noses like the buffalo!'
`That's not true,' replied Franz, gravely, `but there are wild and tame
trees, the wild ones grow out in the woods like the crab-apples, and
the tame ones in the garden like the pears and peaches at home. Which
are these, papa?'
`They are not wild,' I replied, `but grafted or cultivated or, as you
call them, tame trees. No European tree bears good fruit until it is
grafted!' I saw a puzzled look come over the little boy's face as he
heard this new word, and I hastened to explain it.
`Grafting,' I continued, `is the process of inserting a slip or twig of
a tree into what is called an eye; that is, a knot or hole in the
branch of another. This twig or slip then grows and produces, not such
fruit as the original stock would have borne, but such as the tree from
which it was taken would have produced. Thus, if we have a sour crab
tree, and an apple tree bearing fine ribston pippins, we would take a
slip of the latter, insert it in an eye of the former, and in a year or
two the branch which it would then grow would be laden with good
apples.'
`But,' asked Ernest, `where did the slips of good fruit come from, if
none grow without grafting?'
`From foreign countries,' I replied. `It is only in the cold climate of
our part of the world that they require this grafting; in many parts of
the world, in more southern latitudes than ours, the most luscious
fruit trees are indigenous to the soil, and flourish and bear sweet,
wholesome fruit, without the slightest care of attention being bestowed
upon them; while in England and Germany, and even in France, these same
trees require the utmost exertion of horticultural skills to make them
bring forth any fruit whatever.
`Thus, when the Romans invaded England they found nothing in the way of
fruit trees but the crab-apple, nut bushes, and bramble bushes, but by
grafting on these, fine apples, filberts, and raspberries were
produced, and it was the same in our own dear Switzerland--all our
fruit trees were imported.'
`Were cherries, father? May we not even call cherries Swiss? I always
thought they grew nowhere else.'
`I am afraid we cannot even claim cherries as our own, not even the
name of them; they are called cherries from Cerasus, a state of Pontus,
in Asia, whence they were brought to Europe by Lucullus, a Roman
general, about seventy years before Christ.
`Hazelnuts also come from Pontus; walnuts, again, came originally from
Persia. As for grapes, they are of the greatest antiquity. We hear, if
you remember, of Noah cultivating vines, and they have been brought
from one place to another until they now are to be found in most parts
of the civilized world.'
`Do you think all these trees will grow?' asked Fritz, as we crossed
Jackal River and entered our plantation at Tentholm. `Here are lemons,
pomegranates, pistachio nuts, and mulberries.'
`I have little doubt of it,' I replied, `we are evidently within the
tropics, where such trees as these are sure to flourish.
`These pines, now, come from France, Spain, and Italy; the olives from
Armenia and Palestine; the figs originally from the island of Chios;
the preaches and apricots from Persia; plums from Damascus in Syria,
and the pears of all sorts from Greece.
`However, if our countries have not been blessed in the same way with
fruit, we have been given wisdom and skill, which has enabled us to
import and cultivate the trees of other lands.'
We thus talked and worked until every tree that required the treatment
was provided with a stout bamboo prop, and then, with appetites which a
gourmand might well have envied, we returned to Falconhurst.
I think my good wife was almost alarmed at the way we fell upon the
corned beef and palm-cabbage she set before us, but at length these
good things produced the desired effect, and one after another declared
himself satisfied. As we sat reclining after our labour and digesting
our dinner we discussed the various projects we had in contemplation.
`I wish,' said my wife, `that you would invent some other plan for
climbing to the nest above us; I think that the nest itself is perfect,
I really wish for nothing better, but I should like to be able to get
to it without scaling that dreadful ladder every time; could you not
make a flight of steps to reach it?'
I carefully thought over the project, and turned over every plan for
its accomplishment.
`It would be impossible, I am afraid,' said I, `to make stairs
outside, but within the trunk it might be done. More than once have I
thought that this trunk might be hollow or partly so, and if such be
the case our task would be comparatively easy. Did you not tell me the
other day that you noticed bees coming from a hole in the tree?'
`Oh, yes,' said little Franz, `and I went to look at them and one flew
right against my face and stung me, and I almost cried, but I didn't.'
`Brave little boy,' said I. `Well, now, if the trunk be sufficiently
hollow to contain a swarm of bees, it may be for all we can tell hollow
the greater part of its length, for like the willow in our own country
it might draw all its nourishment through the bark, and in spite of its
real unsoundness retain a flourishing appearance.'
Master Jack, practical as usual, instantly sprang to his feet to put my
conjecture to the proof. The rest followed his example, and they were
all soon climbing about like squirrels peeping into the hole, and
tapping the wood to discover by sound how far down the cavity extended.
They forgot, in their eagerness, who were the tenants of this
interesting trunk. They were soon reminded of it, however, for the
bees, disturbed by this unusual noise, with an angry buzz burst out and
in an instant attacked the causers of the annoyance; they swarmed round
them, stung them on the hands, face, and neck, settled in their hair,
and pursued them as they ran to me for assistance.
It was with difficulty that we got rid of the angry insects, and were
able to attend to the boys. Jack, who had been the first to reach the
hole, had fared the worst and was soon a most pitiable sight, his face
swelled to an extraordinary degree, and it was only by the constant
application of cold earth that the pain was alleviated. They were all
eager to commence an organized attack upon the bees at once, but for an
hour or more by reason of their pain they were unable to render me much
assistance.
In the meanwhile I made my arrangements. I first took a large calabash
gourd, for I intended to make a beehive, that, when we had driven the
insects from their present abode, we might not lose them entirely. The
lower half of the gourd I flattened, I then cut an arched opening in
the front for a doorway, made a straw roof as a protection from the
rain and heat, and the little house was complete.
Nothing more however could then be done, for the irritated bees were
still angrily buzzing round the tree. I waited till dark, and then when
all the bees had again returned to their trunk, with Fritz's assistance
I carefully stopped up every hole in the tree with wet clay, that the
bees might not issue forth next morning before we could begin
operations.
Very early were we up and at work. I first took a hollow cane, and
inserted one end through the clay into the tree; down this tube with
pipe and tobacco I smoked most furiously.
The humming and buzzing that went on within was tremendous; the bees
evidently could not understand what was going to happen. I finished my
first pipeful, and putting my thumb over the end of the cane, I gave
the pipe to Fritz to refill. He did so and I again smoked. The buzzing
was now becoming less noisy, and was subsiding into a mere murmur. By
the time I had finished this second pipe all was still; the bees were
stupefied.
`Now then, Fritz,' said I, `quick with a hammer and chisel, and stand
here beside me.'
He was up in a moment, and, together, we cut a small door by the side
of the hole; this door however, we did not take out, but we left it
attached by one corner that it might be removed at a moment's notice,
then giving the bees a final dose of tobacco smoke, we opened it.
Carefully but rapidly we removed the insects, as they clung in
clusters to the sides of the tree, and placed them in the hive
prepared for their reception. As rapidly I then took every atom of wax
and honey from their storehouse, and put it in a cask I had made ready
for the purpose.
The bees were now safely removed from the trunk, but I could not tell
whether, when they revived from their temporary stupor, they might not
refuse to occupy the house with which I had presented them, and insist
on returning to their old quarters. To prevent the possibility of this
occurrence I took a quantity of tobacco, and, placing it upon a board
nailed horizontally within the trunk, I lighted it and allowed it to
burn slowly that the fumes might fill the cavity.
It was well I did so, for, as the bees returned to consciousness, they
left their pretty hive and buzzed away to the trunk of the tree. They
seemed astonished at finding this uninhabitable, and an immense deal of
noisy humming ensued. Round and round they flew, backwards and forwards
between the gourd and tree, now settling here and now there, until, at
length, after due consideration, they took possession of the hive and
abandoned their former habitation to us the invaders of their
territory. By the evening they were quite quiet, and we ventured to
open the cask in which we had stored our plunder.
We first separated the honey from the honeycomb and poured it off into
jars and pots; the rest we then took and threw into a vessel of water
placed over a slow fire. It soon boiled and the entire mass became
fluid. This we placed in a clean canvas bag, and subjected to a heavy
pressure. The honey was thus soon forced out, and we stored it in a
cask, and, though not perhaps quite equal to the former batch in
quality, it was yet capital. The wax that remained in the bag I also
carefully stored, for I knew it would be of great use to me in the
manufacture of candles. Then after a hard day's work we turned in.
The internal architecture of the tree had now to be attended to, and
early the following morning we prepared for the labourious task. A door
had first to be made, so at the base of the trunk we cut away the bark
and formed an opening just the size of the door we had brought from the
captain's cabin, and which, hinges and all, was ready to be hung.
The clearing of the rotten wood from the centre of the trunk occupied
us some time, but at length we had the satisfaction of seeing it
entirely accomplished, and, as we stood below, we could look up the
trunk, which was like a great smooth funnel, and see the sky above.
It was now ready for the staircase, and first we erected in the centre
a stout sapling to form an axis round which to build the spiral stairs;
in this we cut notches to receive the steps, and corresponding notches
in the tree itself to support the outer ends. The steps themselves we
formed carefully and neatly of planks from the wreck, and clenched them
firmly in their places with stout nails.
Upwards and upwards we built, cutting windows in the trunk as we
required, to admit light and air, until we were flush with the top of
the centre pole. On this pole we erected another to reach the top of
the tree, and securing it firmly, built in the same way round it until
we at length reached the level of the floor of the nest above.
To make the ascent of the stairs perfectly easy we ran a hand-rail on
either side, one round the centre pillar, and the other following the
curve of the trunk.
This task occupied us a whole month, and by the end of that period, so
accustomed had we become to having a definite piece of work before us
that we began to consider what other great alteration we should
undertake.
We were, however, of course not neglecting the details of our colonial
establishment. There were all the animals to be attended to; the goats
and sheep had both presented us with additions to our flock, and these
frisky youngsters had to be seen after; to prevent them straying to any
great distance, for we had no wish to lose them, we tied round their
necks little bells, which we had found on board the wreck, and which
would assist us to track them.
Juno, too, had a fine litter of puppies, but, in spite of the
entreaties of the children, I could not consent to keep more than two,
and the rest disappeared in that mysterious way in which puppies and
kittens are wont to leave the earth. To console the mother, as he said,
but also, I suspect, to save himself considerable trouble, Jack placed
his little jackal beside the remaining puppies, and, to his joy, found
it readily adopted.
The other pets were also flourishing, and were being usefully trained.
The buffalo, after giving us much trouble, had now become perfectly
domesticated, and was a very useful beast of burden, besides being a
capital steed for the boys. They guided him by a bar thrust through the
hole in his nose, which was now perfectly healed, and this served the
purpose just as a bit in the mouth of a horse. I began his education by
securing round him a broad girth of buffalo-hide and fastening to it
various articles, to accustom him to carrying a burden. By degrees he
permitted this to be done without making the slightest resistance, and
soon carried the panniers, before borne by the ass, readily and
willingly.
I then made Master Knips sit upon his back and hold the reins I had
prepared for him, that the animal might become accustomed to the
feeling of a rider, and finally allowed Fritz himself to mount.
The education of the eagle was not neglected. Fritz every day shot
small birds for his food, and these he placed sometimes between the
wide-spreading horns of the buffalo or goat, and sometimes upon the
back of the great bustard, that he might become accustomed to pounce
upon living prey.
These lessons had their due effect, and the bird, having been taught to
obey the voice and whistle of his master, was soon allowed to bring
down small birds upon the wing, when he stooped and struck his quarry
in most sportsmanlike manner. We kept him well away from the
poultry-yard lest his natural instincts should show themselves, and he
should put an untimely end to some of our feathered pets.
Neither was Master Knips allowed to remain idle, for Ernest, now that
he was in his possession, wished to train him to be of some use. With
Jack's help he made a little basket of rushes, which he so arranged
with straps that it might be easily fitted on to the monkey's back.
Thus equipped he was taught to mount cocoanut palms and other lofty
trees, and to bring down their fruit in the hamper.
Jack was not so successful in his educational attempts. Fangs, as he
had christened his jackal, used his fangs indeed, but only on his own
account; nothing could persuade him that the animals he caught were not
at once to be devoured, consequently poor Jack was never able to save
from his jaws anything but the tattered skin of his prey. Not
disheartened, however, he determined that Fangs could be trained, and
that he would train him.
These, and suchlike employments, afforded us the rest and recreation we
required while engaged in the labourious task of staircase building.
Among my minor occupations, I applied myself to the improvement of our
candles. Though the former batch had greatly delighted us at first, yet
we were soon obliged to acknowledge that the light they gave was
imperfect, and their appearance was unsightly; my wife, too, begged me
to find some substitute for the threads of our cotton neck-ties*, which
I had previously used as wicks.
* Not what we today call neckties, but rather a soft band of
cloth worn loosely around the neck and used as a sweatband,
to keep sweat and dirt from lodging in the neckband of the
shirt. A collar at this time was a separate piece of cloth,
buttoned on and worn only for at least semi-formal
occasions.
To give the proper shape and smoothness to the candles, I determined to
use the bamboo moulds I had prepared. My first idea was to pour the wax
in at the end of the mould, and then when the candles were cooled to
slip them out; but I was soon convinced that this plan would not
succeed.
I therefore determined to divide the moulds lengthways, and then,
having greased them well, we might pour the melted wax into the two
halves bound tightly together, and so be able to take out the candles
when cool without injuring them.
The wicks were my next difficulty, and as my wife positively refused to
allow us to devote our ties and handkerchiefs for the purpose, I took a
piece of inflammable wood from a tree, a native of the Antilles, which
I thought would serve our purpose; this I cut into long slips, and
fixed in the centres of the moulds. My wife, too, prepared some wicks
from the fibres of the karata tree, which she declared would beat mine
completely out of the field.
We put them to the proof. On a large fire we placed a pot, in which we
prepared our wax mixture--half bees' wax and half wax from the
candleberries. The moulds carefully prepared--half with karata fibre,
and half with wooden splint wicks--stood on their ends in a tub of cold
water, ready to receive the wax.
They were filled; the wax cooled; the candles taken out and subjected
to the criticism of all hands. When night drew on, they were formally
tested. The decision was unanimous: neither gave such a good light as
those with the cotton wicks; but even my wife declared that the light
from mine was far preferable to that emitted by hers, for the former,
though rather flaring, burned brilliantly, while the latter gave out
such a feeble and flickering flame that it was almost useless.
I then turned shoemaker, for I had promised myself a pair of
waterproof boots, and now determined to make them.
Taking a pair of socks, I filled them with sand, and then coated them
over with a thin layer of clay to form a convenient mould; this was
soon hardened in the sun, and was ready for use. Layer after layer of
caoutchouc I brushed over it, allowing each layer to dry before the
next was put on, until at length I considered that the shoes were of
sufficient thickness. I dried them, broke out the clay, secured with
nails a strip of buffalo-hide to the soles, brushed that over with
caoutchouc, and I had a pair of comfortable, durable,
respectable-looking waterproof boots.
I was delighted; orders poured in from all sides, and soon everyone in
the family was likewise provided for.
One objection to Falconhurst was the absence of any spring close by, so
that the boys were obliged to bring water daily from the stream; and
this involving no little trouble, it was proposed that we should carry
the water by pipes from the stream to our present residence. A dam had
to be thrown across the river some way up stream, that the water might
be raised to a sufficient height to run to Falconhurst. From the
reservoir thus made we led the water down by pipes into the turtle's
shell, which we placed near our dwelling, and from which the
superfluous water flowed off through the hole made in it by Fritz's
harpoon.
This was an immense convenience, and we formally inaugurated the
trough by washing therein a whole sack of potatoes. Thus day after day
brought its own work, and day after day saw that work completed. We had
no time to be idle, or to lament our separation from our fellow
creatures.
One morning, as we were completing our spiral staircase, and giving it
such finish as we were capable of, we were suddenly alarmed by hearing
a most terrific noise, the roaring or bellowing of a wild beast; so
strange a sound was it, that I could not imagine by what animal it was
uttered.
Jack thought it perhaps a lion, Fritz hazarded a gorilla, while Ernest
gave it as his opinion, and I thought it possible that he was right,
that it was a hyaena.
`Whatever it is,' said I, `we must prepare to receive it; up with you
all to the nest while I secure the door.'
Then arming the dogs with their collars, I sent them out to protect the
animals below, closed the door, and joined my family.
Every gun was loaded, every eye was upon the watch. The sound drew
nearer, and then all was still; nothing was to be seen. I determined to
descend and reconnoitre, and Fritz and I carefully crept down; with our
guns at full cock we glided amongst the trees; noiselessly and quickly
we pushed on further and further; suddenly, close by, we heard the
terrific sound again. Fritz raised his gun, but almost as quickly again
dropped it, and burst into a hearty fit of laughter.
There was no mistaking those dulcet tones--hee-haw, hee-haw, hee-haw,
resounded through the forest, and our ass braying his approach right
merrily appeared in sight. To our surprise, however, our friend was not
alone: behind him trotted another animal, an ass no doubt, but slim and
graceful as a horse. We watched their movements anxiously.
`Fritz,' I whispered, `that is an onager. Creep back to Falconhurst and
bring me a piece of cord--quietly now!'
While he was gone, I cut a bamboo and split it halfway down to form a
pair of pincers, which I knew would be of use to me should I get near
the animal. Fritz soon returned with the cord, and I was glad to
observe also brought some oats and salt. We made one end of the cord
fast to a tree, and at the other end made a running noose. Silently we
watched the animals as they approached, quietly browsing; Fritz then
rose, holding in one hand the noose, and in the other some oats and
salt.
The ass, seeing his favourite food thus held out, advanced to take it;
Fritz allowed him to do so, and he was soon munching contentedly. The
stranger, on seeing Fritz, started back; but finding her companion show
no signs of alarm, was reassured, and soon approached sniffing, and was
about to take some of the tempting food.
In a moment the noose left Fritz's adroit hand and fell round her
neck; with a single bound she sprang backwards the full length of the
cord, the noose drew tight, and she fell to the earth half strangled. I
at once ran up, loosened the rope and replaced it by a halter; and
placing the pincers upon her nose, secured her by two cords fastened
between two trees, and then left her to recover herself.
Everyone hastened up to examine the beautiful animal as she rose from
the ground and cast fiery glances around. She lashed out with her heels
on every side; and, giving vent to angry snorts, struggled violently to
get free. All her endeavours were vain: the cords were stout, and after
a while she quieted down and stood exhausted and quivering.
I then approached: she suffered me to lead her to the roots of our
tree, which for the present formed our stables, and there I tied her up
close to the donkey, who was likewise prevented from playing truant.
Next morning I found the onager after her night's rest as wild as
ever, and as I looked at the handsome creature I almost despaired of
ever taming her proud spirit. Every expedient was tried, and at length,
when the animal was subdued by hunger, I thought I might venture to
mount her; and having given her the strongest curb and shackled her
feet, I attempted to do so. She was as unruly as ever, and as a last
expedient I resolved to adopt a plan which, though cruel, was I knew
attended with wonderful success by the American Indians, by whom it is
practised.
Watching a favourable opportunity, I sprang upon the onager's back, and
seizing her long ear in my teeth, in spite of her kicking and plunging,
bit it through. The result was marvellous, the animal ceased plunging,
and, quivering violently, stood stock-still.
From that moment we were her masters, the children mounted her one
after the other, and she carried them obediently and quietly. Proud,
indeed, did I feel as I watched this animal, which naturalists and
travellers have declared to be beyond the power of man to tame, guided
hither and thither by my youngest son.
Additions to our poultry yard reminded me of the necessity of
providing some substantial shelter for our animals before the rainy
season came on; three broods of chickens had been successfully hatched,
and the little creatures, forty in all, were my wife's pride and
delight.
We began by making a roof over the vaulted roots of our tree, forming
the framework of bamboo canes which we laid close together and bound
tightly down; others we fixed below as supports. The interstices were
filled up with clay and moss; and coating the whole over with a mixture
of tar and lime-water, we obtained a firm balcony, and a capital roof
impervious to the severest fall of rain. I ran a light rail round the
balcony to give it a more ornamental appearance, and below divided the
building into several compartments. Stables, poultry yard, hay and
provision lofts, dairy, kitchen, larder and dining-hall were united
under one roof.
Our winter-quarters were now completed, and we had but to store them
with food. Day after day we worked, bringing in provisions of every
description.
As we were one evening returning from gathering potatoes, it struck me
that we should take in a store of acorns; and sending the two younger
boys home with their mother and the cart, I took a large canvas bag,
and with Fritz and Ernest, the former mounted on his onager, and the
latter carrying his little favourite, Knips, made a detour towards the
Acorn Wood.
We reached the spot, tied Lightfoot to a neighbouring tree, and began
rapidly to fill the sack. As we were thus engaged, Knips sprang
suddenly into a bush close by, from which, a moment afterwards, issued
such strange cries that Ernest followed to see what could be the
matter.
`Come!' he shouted, `Come and help me! I've got a couple of birds and
their eggs. Quick! Ruffed grouse!'
We hurried to the spot. There was Ernest with a fluttering, screaming
bird in either hand; while, with his foot, he was endeavouring to
prevent his greedy little monkey from seizing the eggs. We quickly tied
the legs of the birds, and removing the eggs from the nest, placed them
in Ernest's hat; while he gathered some of the long, broad grass, with
which the nest was woven, and which grew luxuriantly around, for Franz
to play at sword-drill with.
We then loaded the onager with the acorns and moved homewards. The eggs
I covered carefully with dry moss, that they might be kept warm, and as
soon as possible I handed them over to my wife who managed the mother
so cleverly that she induced her to return to the eggs, and in a few
days, to our great delight, we had fifteen beautiful little Canadian
chicks.
Franz was greatly pleased with the 'swords' his brother brought him;
but having no small companion on whom to exercise his valour, he amused
himself for a short time in hewing down imaginary foes, and then cut
the reeds in slips, and plaited them to form a whip for Lightfoot.
The leaves seemed so pliable and strong, that I examined them to see to
what further use they might be put. Their tissue was composed of long
silky fibres. A sudden thought struck me--this must be New Zealand
flax. I could not rest till I had announced this invaluable discovery
to my wife. She was no less delighted than I was.
`Bring me the leaves!' she exclaimed. `Oh, what a delightful
discovery! No one shall now be clothed in rags; just make me a
spindle, and you shall soon have shirts and stockings and trousers, all
good homespun! Quick, Fritz, and bring your mother more leaves!'
We could not help smiling at her eager zeal; but Fritz and Ernest
sprang on their steeds, and soon the onager and buffalo were galloping
home again, each laden with a great bundle of flax. The boys dismounted
and deposited their offering at their mother's feet.
`Capital!' she exclaimed. `I shall now show you that I am not at all
behindhand in ingenuity. This must be retted, carded, spun and woven,
and then with scissors, needle and thread I will make you any article
of clothing you choose.'
We decided that Flamingo Marsh would be the best spot for the
operation of steeping or `retting' the flax, and next morning we set
out thither; the cart drawn by the ass, and laden with the bundles,
between which sat Franz and Knips, while the rest of us followed with
spades and hatchets.
I described to my boys as we went along the process of retting, and
explained to them how steeping the flax leaves destroys the useless
membrane, while the strong fibres remain.
As we were employed in making beds for the flax and placing it in
them, we observed several nests of the flamingo. These are most
curiously and skilfully made of glutinous clay, so strong that they can
neither be overturned nor washed away. They are formed in the shape of
blunted cones, and placed point downwards; at the upper and broader end
is built a little platform to contain the eggs, on which the female
bird sits, with her long legs in the water on either side, until the
little birds are hatched and can take to the water.
For a fortnight we left the flax to steep, and then taking it out and
drying it thoroughly in the sun, stored it for future use at
Falconhurst.
Daily did we load our cart with provisions to be brought to our
winter-quarters: manioc, potatoes, cocoanuts, sweet acorns,
sugar-canes, were all collected and stored in abundance--for grumbling
thunder, lowering skies, and sharp showers warned us that we had no
time to lose. Our corn was sowed, our animals housed, our provisions
stored, when down came the rain.
To continue in our nest we found impossible, and we were obliged to
retreat to the trunk, where we carried such of our domestic furniture
as might have been injured by the damp. Our dwelling was indeed
crowded: the animals and provisions below, and our beds and household
goods around us, hemmed us in on every side; by degrees, by dint of
patience and better packing, we obtained sufficient room to work and
lie down in; by degrees, too, we became accustomed to the continual
noise of the animals and the smell of the stables.
The smoke from the fire, which we were occasionally obliged to light,
was not agreeable; but in time even that seemed to become more
bearable.
To make more space, we turned such animals as we had captured, and who
therefore might be imagined to know how to shift for themselves,
outside during the daytime, bringing them under the arched roots only
at night. To perform this duty Fritz and I used to sally forth every
evening, and as regularly every evening did we return soaked to the
skin.
To obviate this, my wife, who feared these continual wettings might
injure our health, contrived waterproofs: she brushed on several layers
of caoutchouc over stout shirts, to which she attached hoods; she then
fixed to these duck trousers, and thus prepared for each of us a
complete waterproof suit, clad in which we might brave the severest
rain.
In spite of our endeavours to keep ourselves busy, the time dragged
heavily. Our mornings were occupied in tending the animals; the boys
amused themselves with their pets, and assisted me in the manufacture
of carding-combs and a spindle for their mother. The combs I made with
nails, which I placed head downwards on a sheet of tin about an inch
wide; holding the nails in their proper positions I poured solder round
their heads to fix them to the tin, which I then folded down on either
side of them to keep them perfectly firm.
In the evening, when our room was illuminated with wax candles, I
wrote a journal of all the events which had occurred since our arrival
in this foreign land; and, while my wife was busy with her needle and
Ernest making sketches of birds, beasts and flowers with which he had
met during the past months, Fritz and Jack taught little Franz to read.
Week after week rolled by. Week after week saw us still close
prisoners. Incessant rain battered down above us, constant gloom hung
over the desolate scene.